From handout on July 16, 2008 in Critical Race Theory.
Derrick Bell and others posit a racial philosophy:
Views on Racial Realism:
- Black people will never gain full equality in this country (i.e., parity with White people)
- Efforts will only result in temporary progress
- Through acceptance of this perspective, Blacks can imaginatively devise strategies that foster triumph
- Progress and rights for Blacks are always vulnerable to sacrifice to further the needs of Whites, thus Black subordination remains
- Recognizes the “Caucasian commitment” – the mass of Whites will accept large disparities in economic opportunity so long as they have a priority over Blacks and other people of colour for access to whatever opportunities are left
- Freedom efforts will historically be viewed as child-like, trusting, believing, and hopelessly naive
- Accepts a reality that we live in a society in which racism has been internalized and institutionalized to the point being an essential and inherently functioning component
- Diminishes the notion of “We Shall Overcome”
- Contradictory in that it urges people to give up the dream of permanent racial equality, yet urges a continuance in the fight against racism
- Racial Realists (or a conservationists) include W. E. B. Dubois, Lucius Outlaw, Ron Sundstrom and Paul Taylor, John Shuford
Bell, D. (2005). The racism is permanent thesis. In J. Stefancic & R. Delgado, The Derrick Bell Reader (pp. 79-84). New York: New york University Press.
Bell, D. (2005). Racism is here to stay. In J. Stefancic & R. Delgado, The Derrick Bell Reader (pp. 79-84). New York: New york University Press.
Delgado, R. & Stefancic, J. (2001). critical Race Theory: An introduction. new York: New Yrk University Press.
Shuford, J. (2001). Four Du Boisian contributions to critical race theory. Transactions of the Charles S. Pierce Society, 37(3), 301-337.